Noun / Verb A2 — Elementary /neɪm/

Name — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

The word by which a person or thing is known — and the act of giving or stating that word.

Quick Definition

As a noun, a name is a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known and identified. As a verb, to name means to give a name to someone or something, or to correctly identify and state something.

What Does Name Mean?

Name comes from Old English nama, related to Old Norse nafn and Gothic namo, all descending from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁nómn̥. The Latin equivalent, nomen, gave English a rich family of related words: nominal, nominate, denomination, and nomenclature. The word has been in continuous use in English for well over a thousand years, making it one of the most ancient and stable items in the vocabulary.

As a noun, name covers a wide range: a person's first name or full name, a brand name, a place name, a technical term, or even a reputation ("she made a name for herself"). As a verb, it means to assign a label ("they named the dog Biscuit"), to identify something correctly ("can you name the author?"), or to appoint someone formally ("she was named project lead").

Understanding name in both its noun and verb roles, and knowing its key collocations, will immediately improve the naturalness of your spoken and written English at every level.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevel & usage note
My name is Sara and I am from Poland.A2 — basic self-introduction
Can you name five irregular verbs ending in -ought?B1 — verb: identify correctly
They named their son after his grandfather.B1 — verb: name after someone
The company has built a strong brand name over the past decade.B2 — collocation: brand name
It goes without saying that invoking a colleague's name without consent in a formal report is considered unprofessional.C1 — fixed phrase + formal register

Collocations

CollocationExample
first namePlease write your first name and surname clearly.
full nameEnter your full name as it appears on your passport.
maiden nameHer maiden name was Clarke before she married.
brand nameHoover is a brand name that became a common noun.
place nameMany English place names have Old Norse origins.
pen nameMary Ann Evans used the pen name George Eliot.
household nameAfter the award, she became a household name overnight.
name afterThe library was named after a local poet.
call someone namesCalling people names is a form of bullying.
make a name for oneselfHe made a name for himself as a documentary filmmaker.

Usage Notes

How to Use Name Correctly

  • Noun + article: Use a name (indefinite) or the name (definite) as normal: "She gave the baby a name." / "What is the name of this street?"
  • Verb pattern — name + object: "They named the company Spark."
  • Verb pattern — name + object + after: "She was named after her grandmother."
  • Verb pattern — name + object + as: "He was named as the lead suspect." (formal/journalistic)
  • In the name of: A fixed phrase meaning "on behalf of" or "as a justification": "He acted in the name of justice."
  • Namely: The adverb formed from name means "that is to say": "Two countries agreed, namely France and Germany."

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

My name is calling Sara.

My name is Sara. (name + be + noun, not a continuous verb)

She was named after of her aunt.

She was named after her aunt. ('after' does not take 'of')

Can you tell the name of this song?

Can you tell me the name of this song? (tell requires an indirect object)

Word Family

name (n/v) named (adj) nameless (adj) namely (adv) namesake (n) rename (v) unnamed (adj) nickname (n/v)

Synonyms

title label designation term appellation moniker identity

Related Vocabulary

All Common Words → Grammar Glossary Vocabulary Hub Flash Cards

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “name”

What is the meaning of name?
As a noun, a name is a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known: 'What is your name?' As a verb, to name means to give a label to something or to correctly identify it: 'Can you name the capital of France?' Both uses are extremely common in everyday English.
What is the difference between name, first name, and surname?
In British English, your first name (also called given name or forename) is the personal name chosen at birth, such as James or Sarah. Your surname (also called last name or family name) is your family identifier, such as Smith or Patel. Your full name combines both: James Smith. The word name alone can refer to either or both.
How do you use name as a verb?
As a verb, name follows the pattern 'name + object' or 'name + object + complement'. Examples: 'They named their daughter Lily.' (give a name to) / 'Can you name five irregular verbs?' (identify correctly) / 'She was named Employee of the Year.' (designate or appoint). In formal contexts it can also mean to specify: 'Please name your price.'
What are common collocations with name?
Common collocations include: full name, first name, last name, brand name, place name, maiden name, pen name, stage name, household name, and in someone's name. As a verb: name after (name a child after a grandparent), name as (named as winner), call someone names (insult). These collocations are frequently tested in B2–C1 examinations.
What is the difference between name and noun?
These are often confused by learners. A noun is a grammatical category — a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g. 'table', 'happiness'). A name is a specific word used to identify a particular individual or place (e.g. 'London', 'Maria'). Proper names are a subset of nouns. All names are nouns, but not all nouns are names.
What does 'in the name of' mean?
'In the name of' has two main meanings. First, on behalf of or representing: 'I am speaking in the name of the whole team.' Second, as justification for: 'Terrible acts have been committed in the name of progress.' It is a fixed prepositional phrase used in formal writing and speeches.
What is a maiden name?
A maiden name is the surname a woman has before she marries. In British English it is also called a birth name. For example, if Sarah Jones marries and becomes Sarah Williams, her maiden name is Jones. The equivalent term for a man's birth surname is simply birth name or family name.
What is the origin of the word name?
Name comes from Old English 'nama', which is related to Old Norse 'nafn', Gothic 'namo', and Latin 'nomen'. All descend from Proto-Indo-European '*h₁nómn̥'. The Latin root 'nomen' gives us related English words such as nominal, nominate, denomination, and nomenclature. The word has been in continuous use in English for over 1,000 years.
What does 'to call someone names' mean?
'To call someone names' means to insult or verbally abuse someone by using offensive or hurtful words. It is a fixed phrasal expression: 'The other children called him names in the playground.' Notice this is quite different from simply 'calling someone by their name', which means addressing them normally.
How can I practise using name in English?
Try LexFizz's Flash Cards to practise name and its collocations, or use Complete the Sentence to see it in context. A useful exercise is to write ten sentences using name as both a noun and a verb. You can also study word families: name, named, namely, nameless, namesake, rename, unnamed.